Cardiovascular mortality in Russia: a comment

It is written in the article by Dr. Kharlamov: “The cardiovascular (CV) mortality in Russia alone remains much higher than, if to exemplify, the total mortality in the U.S.” (1). The causes of the high registered CV mortality in the former Soviet Union (SU) and of its increase after 1990 is evident for anatomic pathologists. Since the Soviet time, autopsy remained obligatory for all patients dying in hospitals; but the quality deteriorated especially during the 1990s.